As Crystal Palace prepare for a London derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, manager Oliver Glasner confirmed that mateta will be partly reintegrated into first-team training next week as the club balances Premier League and Conference League commitments. Glasner framed the move as cautious: the forward is expected to return from a long lay-off and start from the bench as he works back to full fitness.
What did Glasner say about Mateta’s return?
Glasner laid out a staged plan for Jean-Philippe Mateta’s comeback. “We’re planning for him to be partly integrated next Monday in the team training for the Larnaca game. It will be the same, starting from the bench, ” he said. The manager added: “He was out for a long time, but his knee looks better now. That’s why we have decided to reintegrate him. We have to be careful, but the goal is that he is available for the Larnaca and Leeds games. “
Those lines reflect a sequence of setbacks and careful management of Mateta’s fitness. His knee problem has kept him sidelined since January; a proposed transfer fell through when a medical was not passed, and he last appeared for the first team in a 3-1 defeat by Chelsea. The club and player opted against surgery, and Glasner’s approach is designed to reintroduce him without risking a relapse.
How Glasner is balancing Tottenham and the Conference League
Glasner has repeatedly stressed the dual demands on his squad. “Now we are starting the crunch time in the UEFA Conference League. We are starting the crunch time in the Premier League. We are on top of it, ” he said, arguing that training and match preparation must reflect both domestic and continental priorities. He described the immediate aim as controllable and concrete: “We want to show a good performance there. That’s the thing that we can influence, we can affect, and that’s the most important part: to defend very well, having a good structure and also being confident like we started at Old Trafford. “
The manager pointed to a narrow defeat away to Manchester United as a reminder of progress and of areas needing improvement. He said the team had taken many positives from that game but also showed what must be worked on. With a Conference League round of 16 tie at home to AEK Larnaca on the horizon, Glasner’s decision to integrate mateta gradually is part of a broader attempt to keep the squad fresh across competitions.
Who returns and how the squad will be managed
Glasner confirmed a short-term boost elsewhere: Jefferson Lerma has returned to the squad but is not ready to start. “Jefferson Lerma is back in the squad but not ready to start, ” Glasner said, noting that Lerma trained and could be available for 15–20 minutes at the end of a match if needed. That restoration is particularly timely given Maxence Lacroix’s suspension; Glasner indicated the defensive options in front of him will include Chadi Riad or Nathaniel Clyne as starters.
On attacking options, Glasner made clear Mateta will need to fight for minutes. The club brought in Jorgen Strand Larsen late in the January window when Mateta’s sale looked imminent; Glasner noted the new signing has impressed across his initial appearances. The manager also gave an update on another forward’s absence: Eddie Nketiah is not expected to be available until April, which shapes short-term selection and fuels the cautious reintegration strategy for mateta.
Glasner also reflected on the upcoming opponent and the unpredictability of their approach. He referenced Tottenham’s new manager and tactical variety as an unknown they must prepare for, and he emphasized a return to the team’s own strengths: structure, confidence and quick ball movement in the opposition half.
Back at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the picture is of a team trying to thread several needles at once: recover players without rush, maintain structure against an adaptable opponent, and compete on two fronts. If mateta is available as planned, Glasner will add another option from the bench as Palace aim to bounce back and build on the positives he says the squad has taken into this crucial stretch.
